Michigan State's Gene Washington among football greats selected for the College Football Hall of Fame

Ex-Michigan State All-American receiver Gene Washington will be immortalized as part of the College Football Hall of Fame.

Former Michigan State two-time All-American Gene Washington was one of 14 players and two coaches named to the College Football Hall of Fame today.

Washington was a three-year starter for coach Duffy Daugherty from 1964-66 at Michigan State, and helped the Spartans to a 23-6-1 record during his career, including back-to-back Big Ten and national championships in 1965-66.

"I was pleasantly surprised when I received the news," Washington said via a press release from Michigan State sports information. "This is a tremendous honor and I want to thank all of the voters who decided to mark my name on the ballot.

"I came from a completely segregated high school system, so I'm most grateful for Michigan State providing me with opportunities to receive a great education while competing in a totally integrated environment. Beyond my athletic achievements, I'm most proud of my education because I knew It would be important to have a second career after football."

As Michigan State's latest inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame, his name will be added to Spartan Stadium's "Ring of Fame" at the Oct. 22 homecoming game against Wisconsin.

Washington, a La Porte, Texas, native, set the then-school single-season records for receptions (35) and receiving yards (542) to go along with his five touchdown catches as a sophomore in 1964. As a junior, he and quarterback Steve Juday connected 40 times for 638 yards. Washington had a game-high four receptions for 81 yards against UCLA in the 1966 Rose Bowl. As a senior, he averaged 25 yards per catch on a team that asked him to block often because the Spartans averaged over 230 yards rushing per game.

Washington paid homage to the 10-10 tie against Notre Dame in 1966, his final game.

"The 10-10 tie against Notre Dame in 1966 set the standard," he said. "With the Rose Bowl's no-repeat rule, the seniors all knew that it was our last game and our last in Spartan Stadium. Both teams entered the game undefeated, so that game meant everything. You gain an even greater appreciation for that game now, knowing that people still talk about that matchup 45 years later. I'm confident that game-day atmosphere in Spartan Stadium rivals that of today's National Championship Games."

Washington finished his career as MSU's all-time leader in receptions (102), receiving yards (1,857) and TD receptions (16). He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings as the eighth pick overall in the first round of the 1967 NFL Draft. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection as a professional, and played seven professional seasons, six with Minnesota and one with Denver.

In 1975, Washington was named to the All-Time All-Big Ten Team, and in 1992, he was a member of the inaugural class inducted into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame.

Washington is the sixth former Michigan State player to be selected for the College Football Hall of Fame, joining halfback John Pingel (inducted in 1968), tackle Don Coleman (1975), linebacker George Webster (1987), defensive end Bubba Smith (1988) and safety Brad Van Pelt (2001).

Washington joins former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr and former Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry, whose elections were announced Saturday.